Imam Bayildi

‘The Imam [or priest] fainted’ is the literal translation of the name for this Turkish dish of cold tomato-stuffed aubergine. It is odd how many cultures have dishes called things to do with clerics and their fondness for the table. The Italians, for example, have a dish of spinach and ricotta dumplings called ‘priest-throttlers’.

In the case of this dish the Imam was so taken with how delicious the aubergine tasted he swooned, presumably after eating rather too many of them.